Uruguay to grow weed on army land

MONTEVIDEO – Uruguay could start growing marijuana on plots of land controlled by the military to avoid illegal trafficking of the crop, which it legalized in December, Defense Minister Eleuterio Fernandez said.

Tapping military land to centralize cannabis cultivation is one of several scenarios Uruguay, the first country in the world to legalize the full cycle of marijuana trade, is studying as it prepares to roll out its new legalization law, Fernandez said Wednesday. Ten to 20 hectares of marijuana will likely be enough to meet domestic demand, preliminary estimates by ruling party lawmakers show.